A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ao Nang vs. Yichang for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ao Nang or Yichang?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ao Nang or Yichang? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Ao Nang or Yichang?

Ao Nang

If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.

Yichang

Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.

Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Yichang, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Yichang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Yichang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yichang and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Yichang.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Yichang Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Yichang?

Yichang has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Yichang, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Ao Nang or Yichang?

Yichang has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ao Nang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Yichang in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Yichang. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Yichang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ao Nang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Yichang averages at about 29°C (85°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Yichang. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ao Nang this time of the year. In the summer, Ao Nang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Yichang. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Yichang. Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in July than Yichang. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October in Ao Nang is the rainy season.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Yichang in the Autumn?

Both Yichang and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year.

In October, Ao Nang is generally a little warmer than Yichang. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 27°C (81°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Yichang during autumn. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 134 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In October, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Yichang. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Ao Nang is December to March. The rainy season in Ao Nang is August to October.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Yichang in the Winter?

Both Yichang and Ao Nang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Ao Nang is much warmer than Yichang in the winter. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Yichang fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. In the winter, Ao Nang often gets more sunshine than Yichang. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 92 hours of full sun.

Ao Nang usually gets more rain in January than Yichang. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Ao Nang.

Should I visit Ao Nang or Yichang in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Yichang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round.

In the spring, Ao Nang is much warmer than Yichang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ao Nang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Yichang averages at about 18°C (65°F).

In Ao Nang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Yichang during spring. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 129 hours of full sun in the spring.

Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Yichang. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yichang and Ao Nang